Ft. Pierce Inshore - Offshore Report

May 4, 2010 INSHORE - The inshore bite remains steady despite all the wind we have been having. The trout bite has been about the best thing going with fish to 6 pounds being reported. A live shrimp fished under a popping cork has been the way to go. The sheepshead are still feeding on small live shrimp around just about any structure and the fish have been from 2 to 4 pounds. The snapper bite has picked up with fish to 2 pounds being reported. Same as the sheepshead -- around any structure. The flounder bite has been good around the North Bridge and the South Jetty when using a shrimp on a trol-rite hook. Over the weekend a couple of tripletail were reported coming from the channel markers just south of the power lines. A live shrimp was used and the biggest fish was 6 pounds. A few redfish were reported around the docks along North Indian River Drive. A gold spoon or a live shrimp have been working the best. OFFSHORE - The word over the weekend was DOLPHIN, DOLPHIN, DOLPHIN! We had a group of police and firemen at the motel on Thursday, and Friday for their annual offshore tournament. All the boats had dolphin to 29 pounds and one boat had a 47.5 pound king that was caught on 60 feet of water out of the Ft. Pierce Inlet. Most of the dolphin were caught on small ballyhoo and it was a 50/50 split for naked or skirted. The color over the weekend was a green/yellow skirt and most of the fish were caught in 140 to 200 feet of water. There were a few reports about a good weed line on Friday. The kingfish have been in 30 to 60 feet of water and taking mullet. We had several nice cobia come in and they were from 24 to 37 pounds and caught in about the same area as the kings. Got a couple of reports about big redfish at the Boils on Friday morning. TEEN ANGLERS - On Sunday - May 2nd the Treasure Coast Chapter of Ten Anglers held their fish of for the Teen Angler of the Year. After all the points were totaled there was a 2-way tie between the current Teen Angler of the Year - Shane Surrency and Dylan Sholander. These two will compete against each other this coming Sunday for the top honor. 2nd place went to Ariel Vance who has been in the program for 4 years -- 2 years as a Junior Teen Angler and 2 years as a Teen Angler. 3rd place went to Robert Dumont who is new to the program this year. Brennen Tessier caught the biggest fish which was a 5lb trout he caught on a live shrimp. For more info on Teen Anglers for the 12 to 18 age group or Junior Teen Anglers for the 5 to 11 age group you can call 772-01-5773 or go to the website at www.teenanglers.org 2nd ANNUAL DOCKSIDE INN MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND FISHING TOURNAMENT - The Dockside Inn will be hosting their 2nd annual Mother's Day weekend fishing tournament. The tournaments will take place on Saturday - May 8th. There is a dock tournament for the kids 12 and under, and also an inshore & offshore tournament with a 100% cash pay out based on the number of entries.. You can call 1-800-286-1745 for more info. If you would like to report a catch you can e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at 772-201-5770. You can also reach me on the web at www.captjoeward.com Capt. Joe Ward Capt. Joe's River Charters